Minot, the Rally, and the Peace Garden

(Originally posted by Sandra on Facebook on September 3, 2026)

Leaving Medora, we proceeded east toward our next big event, The Airstream International Rally.

We did an overnight stop at a state park about 40 minutes south of Minot to prepare the trailer for six nights of dry camping, IYKYK. We were not alone in this process as the park was filled with other Airstreamers doing exactly the same thing.

We woke the next morning and drove north toward Minot passing fields of giant sunflowers.

On our way into the fairgrounds we dropped off nearly fifty pounds of laundry. (I know this because we had to pay by the pound) We hadn’t done laundry in nearly two weeks! That’s a new record for us!

Sandra in a sun hat standing beneath a downtown Minot mural, a giant red speech bubble on brick reading “Why Not Minot?” — The city’s own best argument

Arriving at the fairgrounds, we filed into line waiting to be escorted to our spot. Over the next few days, 986 Airstreams filled the lots around us.

Rows of polished Airstreams at dusk, their red running lights washing the gravel between them in color under a deep blue sky — 986 of them, and this is one row at dusk

Through the six days we attended classes and seminars related to everything Airstream.

Theodore Roosevelt turned up here too — he does get around North Dakota

In addition to the classes, we enjoyed happy hours and meals with new and old friends.

Tom and Sandra in front of a bright illustrated Minot, North Dakota backdrop of trees, buildings, a Ferris wheel and a smiling sun — Minot, North Dakota

We joined meet ups with the North Texas Airstream Club, as well as some dear friends from the ExplOregon Caravan last summer.

Eight friends from the ExplOregon Caravan gathered between rows of Airstreams under flags, one holding a carved wooden map of Oregon — The ExplOregon crew, back together a year later

August 27th

From the busyness of non stop action and constant light around us, we left for something a little more peaceful. With Belle in tow, we drove 45 minutes further and crossed the US Border. We camped in the International Peace Garden. We walked through the gardens in awe of the quietness and peacefulness. We slept soundly in the dark skies. In 1934, the gardens were created in celebration of peace, cooperation and friendship; something we should never take for granted.

Tom and Sandra side by side in the International Peace Garden at sunset, the formal flower beds and a long reflecting channel running to the horizon behind them, the international boundary passing between them — Sunset down the length of the International Peace Garden — the border runs right between us, so Tom is standing in Canada and I’m in the United States

When exiting the garden, we could choose whether to continue to Canada or return to the US. Either way a passport was required for entry/reentry. Choosing the US, we drove through customs. Driving south about half an hour we came across a landmark. We were literally in the center of our North America in Rugby, North Dakota. Of course, we had to make a stop before continuing our journey into Minnesota.

Tom and Sandra beside Belle at the stone cairn in Rugby, North Dakota, its plaques reading “Geographical Center of North America” — Literally in the middle of North America